Financial Analyst (Research & Development)

Apex

$95K — $115K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of relevant experience in FP&A, corporate finance, or an analytical finance role.
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
  • Strong command of financial modeling, forecasting, and variance analysis.
  • Familiarity with purchase order and requisition approval processes for large projects.
  • Adaptability in a fast-paced and dynamic working environment.
  • Excellent communication skills, able to effectively partner with senior leadership and technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Own headcount planning and modeling, ensuring accurate forecasts in partnership with hiring managers.
  • Serve as the finance business partner to the Engineering team, providing analysis and financial guidance.
  • Contribute to planning cycles, including preparation and review of annual budgets and long-range plans.
  • Perform variance analysis, explaining differences between budget and actual metrics and providing actionable insights.
  • Assist with monthly and quarterly management reporting, preparing executive materials.
  • Identify and implement enhancements for FP&A processes to boost accuracy and efficiency.
  • Support purchase order and requisition processes for significant Engineering projects.

Benefits

  • Receive equity in Apex, benefiting directly from your contributions.
  • 100% company-paid healthcare for employees and dependents, including dental and vision.
  • Starting at 15 days of annual vacation, increasing to over 20 days, plus 10 paid holidays.
  • Generous 401(k) plan with substantial employer matching contributions.
  • 8 weeks of paid parental leave, plus childcare reimbursement for travel-related costs.
  • Daily catered lunches and unlimited snacks available in the office.
  • Engage in a vibrant community with monthly socials and activities.
  • Access to a world-class office environment that encourages collaboration and flexibility.
Full Job Description
About the Role

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analyst to join our Finance team. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role centered on headcount planning and modeling and serving as the dedicated finance business partner to our Engineering organization. You will work closely with senior leadership on the Engineering team to drive planning, reporting, and analysis that informs decisions across a fast-moving aerospace and space business. The ideal candidate is analytically rigorous, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to adapt quickly as priorities shift.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Headcount ownership: Own headcount planning and headcount modeling across the company, maintaining accurate, department-level forecasts and partnering with hiring managers on plan versus actuals.
  • Engineering partnership: Serve as the finance business partner to the Engineering organization, providing analysis, guidance, and financial visibility to Engineering and R&D leadership.
  • Planning cycles: Act as a key contributor to the company's planning cycles (annual budget, reforecasts, and long-range planning), including preparation, consolidation, and review.
  • Variance analysis: Perform variance analysis, explaining drivers of budget-to-actual and forecast-to-actual differences and surfacing actionable insights.
  • Reporting: Assist with monthly and quarterly reporting, including executive and management-level materials.
  • Process improvement: Identify and implement process improvements and system enhancements that increase the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of FP&A workflows.
  • PO/PR support: Support purchase order (PO) and purchase requisition (PR) approvals and tracking for multi-million-dollar projects within the Engineering team.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • 3-5 years of relevant experience in FP&A, corporate finance, or a comparable analytical finance role.
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
  • Strong command of financial modeling, forecasting, and variance analysis.
  • Familiarity with purchase order and purchase requisition approval processes for multi-million-dollar projects.
  • Ability to be flexible and adapt quickly to shifting priorities in a dynamic environment.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to partner effectively with senior leadership and technical (Engineering/R&D) stakeholders.
  • U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Familiarity with Engineering and Research & Development (R&D) cost structures and financial dynamics.
  • Experience in the space industry or broader aerospace and defense sector.
  • Advanced competency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.

What We Offer For Full-time Employees:
  • Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create
  • Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
  • Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
  • Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
  • 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
  • Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day
  • Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family
  • Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self
  • World-class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in-person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life
  • Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting-edge industries to make a lasting difference

Ready to join a team where your contributions matter and your future is bright? Let's build something extraordinary together.

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